From an early age I was influenced by growing up in the beauty of the Pacific Coast of Canada. I have admired the work of many artists but especially those that portray the natural world such as Robert Bateman. For years I painted realistic wild life and landscape pictures.

During 30 years as an elementary school teacher, I have endeavoured to instill in students this love and concern for the natural world. While working on many environmental issues, I have become aware of the growing need to protect and work with natural systems.

James Lovelock¹s work on the Gaia Theory inspired me to paint in a more surrealist form to depict the connectedness of everything around us. The Gaia Theory states that the world is like a precious living organism which balances conditions necessary for life¹s survival.

I call this series PRECIOUS PLANET ART and hope that these new vibrant paintings reflect my passion for the beauty and fragility of the world in it¹s entirety. Gaia, the Earth Goddess, appears in some to the paintings as she strives to maintain this ancient balance of life. Children, the inheritors of the earth are also portrayed as a precious resource. Other images connect the earth to delicate birds, flowers and butterflies.

When traveling and visiting ancient cities I¹ve asked myself, why we do not allocate the same amount of money, energy and concern to the preservation of this planet as we extend to historical buildings and artifacts. This planet is our greatest asset and the children of the future will inherit only what we protect for them. As a parent, teacher and artist, I hope my paintings inspire others to better care for our PRECIOUS PLANET.